Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-27
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESENT STATUS OF ITS DE-
MORALIZED CONDITION.
Interview with j. 7. Griffitts, Presl-
dent of the Board of Commission.
ers-Next Weeks Outlook.


the effect that employees of the railroad
company must not hereafter hold positions
as extramen in the city Fire Department, led
REcoRD-UHIoN representative yesterday to
call upon J. T. Griffitts, President of the
Board of Fire Commissioners, when the
following interview took place:
Reporter-What is there new, if any,
thing, concerning the Fire Department
muddle?
President Griffitts-Matters remain about
the same as they have. Affairs are, of
course, more or less demoralized, but not
enough, however, to interfere with the
proficiency of the extra men who put out
the fires. There has been an introduction
of new material lately into the ranks of
extra men, and l know nothing as to its
quality. 1twas put on, or pretended to be
put on, at the so-called meeting at the
private sick-room of Commissioner Con-
ran. At that meeting several changes
were attempted to be made to carry out the
prearranged slate" or programme. and
IN doing this some of the best men upon
the force were displaced, and in other cases
men who had been suspended for good and
sufficient reason, or allowed to- resign, -
were set to work again under the so-called
newly-elected Chief. The entire " slate"
however, was not carried out as one part
of it was; as ] have seen in writing,
signed by one of the majority" members
of the Board of Fire Commissioners,
to elect Commissioner Slater's son
as Secretary of the Board in place of
Jackson. Why this was not done
at the sick-room" meeting of the Board.
| have no means of knowing, unless it was
that it might have appeared like an act of
ingratitude.to unceremoniously put Jackson
out at once, when his services were neces-
sary, and had been faithfully rendered, in
calling and holding the trump" meeting.
There may be something else concerning it
behind the curtain that wells all such
transactions of officials and political affairs
under the supreme dictation of the
bosses in this city, but if so, the people
will have to await developments to know
what the orders u are in the matter
Rep. lettering to the injunction already
served upon City Auditor Mckee, what are
the prospects OF the matter coming to issue
and hearing in the Courts?
Pres. CT cannot say particularly as to
that, but unquestionabIy this foolish at
tempt to upset the regular workings of the
Board and Fire Department by an irregu-
larly- called and irregularly-held meeting,
in place which the law never contem-
plated and will never recognize, will sooner
or later have to be passed upon and put to
an end by the Courts. The approaching
monthly meeting of the Board and passing
upon the payroll of the members of the
Fire Department, may bring this speedily
about, and would naturally do so, for /
shall not permit, by my vote, any pay to
parties holding their positions under the
sick-room attempted reorganization of the
rr.ll g.t,, .t~.,~s, i L.. n
able TO be present no vote can be given
that will allow them pay. Unless Mr. Con-
ran is present at tie meeting there will be
but Mr.. Slater and myself to vote, and
neither of US alone will be sufficient ma
Jority to allow the pay of anyone that is
not supported by both. In other words, it
will be deadlock again, and do not ap
prehend that even the powers that are
endeavoring to run the Board would ven
ture the holding of another bedroom meet
ing after the general condemnation that
the previous one received from the public.
Rep.-I suppose there is no question as
to the pay of a part of the members of the
force?
Pres. G.-No, think there will be an
agreement to allow the pay of all the old
members not interferred with by the recent
operations. That is, | am willing to ap-
prove the payroll as it stood at the last
monthly meeting, and to those members
alone. l do not recognize that any changes
have been made since that time.
Rep.-When will the next meeting of the
Board probably be held?
Pres. G.-Well, l shall call it for some
time about the last of this month.
Reply the way, IN what manner are
the meetings of the Board regularly called,
and who may call them?
Pres. G.-The meeting have always been
called by the President of the Board, and
by no one else, until the late episode Of
course if the President was absent from
the city for length of time that might
make it necessary to provide for otherwise
calling 1t, but in the recent case the Presi-
dent was not only in the city, but the So
called special meeting was called after the
close of regular meeting, notice being
served on the same evening, and simply
because prearranged slate" could not be
carried out at the regular and legally con-
stituted meeting. II meeting called and
held in such a manner and for such pur-
pose can stand before the Courts, then |
see no use in statutory provisions for the
administration of municipal affairs.
Rep.-How are the workings of the De-
partment progressing under the present
mixed condition of affairs?
Pres. CT have heard that there is some
complaint on the part of the Board of IN
derwiters concerning the Chinatown fire,
but they have not said anything to me
about it. While Chief Sullivan was the
first member of the Department upon the
ground, and remained until it was out, vet
our purpose has been since this .embroglio
commenced, not to do anything to cause a
collision of authority when property was in
jeopardy, and on that account Assistant
Chief Engineer O'Meara had entire charge
of management of the fire, and is accord
ingly responsible for it.
Rep.-Are there any other matters OF
interest to come before the next meeting of
the Board that you are aware of?
Pres. G-Not unless the changes which
l proposed at the last meeting-the estab-
fishing of another engine company at
Nineteenth and L streets-are taken up.
This should be DONE and, with the exer-
else OF the economies in the conduct of the
department which l then urged, it could
easily be accomplished with the funds we
now have at our disposal and thereby
greatly increase the security to property
throughout the entire eastern portion of
the city. We have money enough in the
fire department fund to equip and run this
third engine. commencing Immediately,
and the people of the city, for the safety of
Board, and that at once. If the Commits
sieners intend to work for the best inter-
ests of the city, they will promptly pro-
vide this additional security if they do
not so intend, then they should resign, or
the Board be abolished-and the quicker
the better | have no desire, for my part,
to remain upon the Board if it is to be run
merely as a political machine, and / believe
the great majority of the people are heartily
sick of having departments of the city
government used for that purpose, and
which has become VIGOROUSLY the fact CON-
corning this department since the repeal OF
the rule which forbid it, and the repeal OF
which l voted against.
Rep.-What about the order mentioned
in the REooRD-UNIoN this morning, pro-
hibiting men employed in the railroad
shops from serving as members of the city
Fire Department?
Pres. G.-Well, such an order was made
in some departments of the shops yester-
day 1t originated in the fact that few OF
the men who work there and have also re-
Gently filled the positions of extra men in
the Fire Department would take occasion
| to get upon spree at the close of nearly
every fire and not return to work for from
one to three days afterwards. l have to-day
consulted with the foremen in the shops
and those men who have returned to their
work promptly when fires are out, will not
be interfered with by the order referred to-
| l am glad the authorities at the shops make
tbis diecri M =, ton aS there is no one W hr